I'm New Looking for general Advice

[Beefamus]

Hey everyone, Started riding about 6-7 months ago, with a Lexmoto Vixen 125, mainly for comfort as I'm riding at least 45mins each way to work excluding call outs so its around 3 hours riding a day.

I'm currently running on a CBT licence, which will only last 2 year i know, and planning to take my full licence either this summer or earliness next year, depending on the money i have saved up for it.



anyway enough of that, the main reason for this post is I'm fishing for a bit of advice, main about cleaning and maintaining by bike.


1) I'm currently using soap and warm water to wash it and using degreaser to get the crap of the back rim and other parts, is this recommend or are the cleaning products (i.e mucoff etc) better?
can i used soap and water to clean my front disc brake as well?

2) I'm lubing up my chain every weekend when its fair weather during the week or every 2-3 days when its raining? to much, not enough?

3) When i pass my full licence I'll progressively work up to a 650cc bike (i.e 125, 250, 500, 650 depending on cash flow and confidence levels), then save for a Harley yes i know stereo typical but I'm a sucker for a Harley (looking about 10-15 years time at least) just wondering what decent reliable 250cc bikes their are out there?

many thanks and much appreciated

Beefamus

[Mikey3]

Hi mate,

Yes warm and soapy water is fine, bike/car shampoo would do fine also.
If you wanted to get anal about it yes you could go for all the brands - auto glym/muck off etc, but they just minimalise the amount of elbow grease needed, at a price.
the degreaser is fine - WD-40 or toolstation do one which does as good a job at a cheaper price.

For the discs I'd recommend just water or perhaps a serious cleaner like carb cleaner or similar if you really needed to because that'll get any grease which could be on them, off.
Just use water, that's what i do, then just trail brake (hold the brakes slightly on) as you ride off to disperse the water which may remain to freshen the bite back up.
Well done on the chain lubing mate! , many people don't realize the importance of keeping it lubricated and happy . Spot on!

Nothing wrong with a harley mate just regularly apologise to the neighbours .
with regards to 250's, You could get a little off roader; plenty of 250 dirt bikes out there, which you could have endless fun and learning on.
Kawasaki do a Ninja 250 but that costs far too much IMO for a stepping stone - bit sporty ish too.
Then there's the bikes like the Hyosung GT250 which my mate has and has loved, but is more the sports type like the ninja which wouldn't go with your cruiser taste - go onto biketrader and specify your search to what you want.
Have you considered going up to a 4/500cc bike? For leaning purposes and confidence the Honda CB500/CBF500 or the Kawasaki Zephyr 400 would be perfect, and would be perfectly comfortable too.
HTH
Mike
____________________
'04 Yamaha WR450F
'99 SV650 Streetfighter Project - mid build
'Motorcycling is about what you do; not about what you own, or how much you spend on it'

[Paris2]

Hi

1) I use soap and water, so cant comment on any other decent cleaning agents. I probably wont start cleaning properly till the weather gets better, pointless for me.

2) You can never lube too much. Just make sure your not getting any on the brakes or tyres, and keep adjusting the chain whilst your at it.

3) I went straight from a 125cc to a 650cc, as have most people on the forum. No point in doing it in stages just as long as your are sensible, it seems like an expensive way of learning.
____________________
Current Ride: Daytona 600

[pits]

[haroman666]

As above, soap and water is fine.
I use Autoglym car shampoo all over and then use alloy wheel cleaner on the wheels. For the brakes I just wipe them with the sponge as I do with rest of the bike with the Shampoo/water and I have no problems. Just don't go hooning up the road without dragging the brakes for a few meters to dry them off before.

As for the chain lubing: That's dedication right there! I lubed my chain for the first time in 3 months the other day. I'm reeeally terrible for it though. I need to tighten it up too so I shall do that later today when i go out to solder up my RHS switchgear (Old bikes are a pain in the arse).

I went straight from a 125 to a 400. Like you, I felt i'd prefer to do "stepping stones" up to a big bike. But I can honestly say that it's probably not worth it. So long as you're consciously careful with throttle/clutch control and you don't gun it around everywhere then you will be fine. I perhaps have a half-hearted perspective on this as i've been told a few times that the 400 Bandit is quicker off the line than the 600 as it's that much lighter. Dont know how legit that is though.
____________________
The mistresses: 2000 Honda CBR600f, 2000 Honda VTR1000

[Beefamus]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies and details, the only reason I'm so anal about my chain is it was a bran new bike back in June 2011 and i shagged the chain on it, (bolts that were holding the rear sprocket on sheered straight off, fixed under warranty)

as for going to a bigger bike, after reading your replies and many others i'll props miss our the "stepping stones" idea of my plan and go to a 600 or so, i've been looking at a "SUZUKI SV650" for a while, spoke to a few people who have had friends with them, apprently they accelerate to 60-70 fairly quickly then drag their asses getting any more????

but as some of you may of realised I'm got riding to get from A to B quickly but to get to A to B in my own time but on a bike I like the look, sound and feel of! again props sound anal

anyone had personal experiences with the SV650 or similar running bikes?

again many thanks for your input

Edit:

sorry only just read mredhead & Paris2 sigs and it says you've both got a sv650 ?

[Paris2]

[haroman666]

[Beefamus]

[pits]

[Teflon-Mike]

1/ 3rd Directive Licence Laws.
As from January next year, ie less than 12months away; you will NOT be able to take tests on a 125 to get a 'full' UK A-Group motorcycle licence. You will only be able to test for an A1, 125 'only' licence. To gain full A-Group, ride what you like licence you will have to test on a full power 'big' bike; and be over 24 to do so in one shot under DAS rules. Else you will have to do the new 'restricted' licence catagory tests A2, on a 400cc/45bhp bike, 'DAS-Style' and have held that licence 2 years before you can test again for Full A, on full power bike. Question remains whether unsupervised riding on L's will remain, or whether you will have to pass tests on 125 for an A1 licence as pre-qualifier to do A2 tests.

From initial comment about your test plans; its this year or never. And you have had the privilidge of riding unsupervised ahead of test on a provisional licence to allow you to 'Practice', for 7-8months; how much 'practice' do you think you need?

Suggest you get up to speed, and bring your ideas of getting your licence up the schedule a bit... like as in NOW.

Later you leave it in the year, more people ALL trying to get thier full licences ahead of new laws, you will be competing with for test apointments.

As for the bike maintenence; keeping it clean is good; but there is more to look after and lube than just the chain & sprockets!

I suggest you get hold of a Haynes manual; if they dont do one for the Lexmoto, or generic Chinese bikes; then one for a Honda CG125 will probably be close enough; look at the section oin 'Routine Maintenence' and follow it.

Brakes can do with a little grease; on the pivot points or caliper float pins from time to time; head-races need greasing and adjusting; brake master cylinders need brake fluid; etc. Its all covered in the book.

But, good for having a go, so far!
____________________
My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[Mikey3]

[Beefamus]

[Mikey3]

[Mikey3]

[Beefamus]

thanks for everything everyone, great bunch of people on this forum, great info all very much appreciated, I'm sure I'll be popping my head in more regularly, get to know more info and when i get a full licence maybe a few rides?

anyway i think i'm going to have to get a pen a paper (or laptop) write down all the possibility's and... pick but before that book up my full test for the next few months, many once winters passed April - May sort of time.

But thanks for all your advice, and hope to ride with you in the future.

Beefamus

[pits]

[Mikey3]

[Rogerborg]

What Mike said, if you're going to be under 24 by January 19th 2013 then sit any test that you can as soon as you can.

The "Lexmoto Vixen" is a Jiangmen Dihao Motorcycle Co HN125-8/HT125-8, made in China, not Korea. Korean bikes like Hyosungs are likely to be better made, but you get good un's and bad un's from any manufacturer.

I went HN125-8 Lifan LF250-B, essentially a Yamaha Dragstar 250 GPz 305.

Along the way I tried a Ninja 250 and a Bandit GSF650.

I liked the HN/Vixen, the Lifan I'd recommend skipping, the GPz is a great bike but it will explode or snap the £200 drive belt essentially rendering it scrap, the Ninja is laughably over-priced, and the Bandit is a bloody tank, a full 1/4 ton fuelled up.

If I'd had an ounce of sense I'd have restricted any of the 500 twins, or an SV650. When my license upgrades in April I'll be looking at the 500s, the SV650, the ER6-n/f, Diversion and the BMW F/G650, but I'll look to bag a good example of just about anything in the 500-650 class rather than restricting my search to a few bikes.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Paris2]

[Mikey3]

Dear Paris hear shows the full fairing in all its' err... well yeah
but i DID say in my opinion
much love paris
mike
____________________
'04 Yamaha WR450F
'99 SV650 Streetfighter Project - mid build
'Motorcycling is about what you do; not about what you own, or how much you spend on it'

[Paris2]

much love Mike
____________________
Current Ride: Daytona 600